Question:

Did you hear about the Energizer Bunny dying? Someone put his batteries in backwards and he just kept coming and coming and coming….. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery. Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [snip] that the world was a better place without me on it… Amen

See, that’s what editing can do to a concept – turn it into a suicide note! /daytripper (although if it gets any hotter here, that’s an idea…)

Response:

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery.

Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Response:

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery. Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Get someone else to lift it for you… Paul

Response:

(snipped report) That was a good read.  Excellent fishing description. Jeez, drink something with some actual caffeine in it next time and we might get a real epic bruce h

Response:

(snipped report) That was a good read.  Excellent fishing description. Jeez, drink something with some actual caffeine in it next time and we might get a real epic bruce h

Be careful what you ask for I suppose I should have mentioned that I rarely have anything with a significant amount of caffeine in it, since 1987, on the recommendation of a cardiac specialist back then who determined it was aggravating a non-life-threatening-but-really-distracting "premature ventricular contraction" syndrome I had been experiencing. And though the PVCs passed after two years, never to return (yet, at least) I still usually avoid caffeine, as I discovered I really didn’t need it – and that the world was a better place without me on it… /daytripper (*definitely*!

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[snip] that the world was a better place without me on it…

Amen

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. … Did that once in the middle of the afternoon with half a dozen people on my boat watching…very embarassing. Indeed. Yet Paul – bless his heart – went very easy on me, considering the fullness of the opportunity. I don’t know that I’d be as kind, but then again, it was *my* boat, and we were a long way from land

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery.

Response:

[snip] that the world was a better place without me on it… Amen

No, no, no Paul, he didn’t say "IN" it!         Wolfgang

Response:

OK, this is a bit wordy. It didn’t start out that way, it just grew. Mostly ‘cuz I’m wound up like a friggin’ mainspring by caffeinated beverages, and I’d have to burn a kilo to flatten out. Deal with it…And pay no attention to the unethical counting…. So I’m kinda on this corporate shut-down thing for the week – although I’m supposed to be "available", whatever the hell that’s really supposed to mean, which is the only thing keeping me out of the mountains this week. Too bad, I’ll bet the alderflies are a’poppin right about now. So much for Plan A. Anyway, the weather forecast for this week starts out grim and gets worse – we’ll be in the mid 90’s and wicked humid for the next few days. And me with a dysfunctional air conditioning unit at home. Uh oh… Plan B is to spend as much time on water. Any water. So Monday morning I get my boat out of winter mothball mode, clean it up, slap the muffs and a hose on the engine,  fire it up, and wake the neighborhood dead for awhile while I checked the tires and get my gear on board. It looks good. We’re ready. Wife and sons are all working this week. Tough nuggies. Call the SO and let her know once I’m a little more than half way to the Merrimack. Can hear her silently crossing herself, figuring (1) I’m by myself on a big brawny river at night and (2) my back is still sorta healing up after the surgery. The surgery which she is still convinced was necessary because of the boat. Ahem… I tell her not to worry, Paul Goodwin’s gonna meet me at the launch. Then I call Paul  Whoops, no answer at work or on cell. Maybe he went fishing already? He finally calls back when I’m within 15 minutes of the river, he’ll definitely come but he’ll be an hour behind. No problem, I’ll putt around and work a few close by spots then pick him off the dock. So eventually we’re both on board and cruising down river towards the ocean. The tide is dead high so we spent the better part of a couple of hours stripping streamers up on Joppa Flats – basically a square mile of 6′ deep water at high tide – and mud and grass at low – with a vestigial island in the middle. A few weeks ago this area was blazing with activity, but tonite we’d only see the bait gommers with an occasional hook up. Two hours past high tide we motored out through the mouth into the ocean and fished the back side of the south channel rock jetty. This is a spot I always hit if I’m otherwise fishless – because I *always* catch at least a couple of fish here. It’s good for the first three hours of an outgoing tide, otherwise it’s crap. We had about an hour on the jetty point, with me holding the boat just in casting range of the rocks while Paul landed two stripers and popped another before that spot went dead. Towards the end I set two anchors to hold us in place and got in a few casts, got a smack but still blanked. We then scooted back into the river and up the tail edge of the flats, just south of the G13 can. The idea is to fish the drop off on the down stream edge, where the stripers should congregate to catch whatever gets swept off the flats. I’ve hit this spot on days where literally every cast produced a striper.  All you have to do is plop your anchor on the high side and ease down over the drop before making fast. So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. Damn – I hate it when I do that. Auxiliary Anchor instantly field promoted to Main Anchor. We fished this area as the sun set and the air began to cool, both on anchor and just drifting. Drifting worked better tonite, with Paul nabbing another couple of stripers, and me finally boating one. Then I got another. Things were looking up The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. And I promptly caught another striper. And after a bit, my fourth one, a particularly feisty beast that got some really good knuckle-shots in on my reel hand and took me at least 5 minutes and about a quarter mile of drifting downstream to get in the boat. I’m guessing it was 24-25" – not legal, but a nice fish to end the evening, and a reaffirmation that flyfishing for stripers can be a blast… At 11PM and pitch black we motored back up the river, using the GPS to find each channel marker and bridge underpass in turn, as I had programmed into the unit a few years ago, and following the middle of the channel with the sonar display. Wonderful stuff, electronics. Hauled out in the dark (the $5 launch fees apparently won’t light the single streetlamp on the ramp, harrumph!), had my e-brake freeze solid two clicks from released when I backed down to haul the boat – gonna have to fix that beyotch now for sure, hit a local Wendy’s around midnight, then blasted home. Feeling great, back is fine. No ill effects, other than being wound up pretty tight from way too many Classic Cokes. (No – the *drink*, dammit!) SO will be eyeballing me like a hawk in the morning looking for damage, gonna have to literally pop out of bed on the run to keep the heat off me Mid-90’s and humid sucks on dry land. Much nicer to be on the water. Might just have to do the whole thing again tomorrow…Or maybe a lake… /daytripper (bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like Jolt??)

Response:

(bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like Jolt??)

I used to drink that stuff back when I was closer to your age. It’s starting to wear off now. <g Nice TR. — Charlie…

Response:

What a nice story – a couple weeks ago I was in Maine.  A buddy of mine took me out twice for stripers in the Yarmouth area.  We were using shooting heads – an absolute hoot – and chasing busting schools.  We had the adrenaline up as long as the tide held out! Pete Collin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, this is a bit wordy. It didn’t start out that way, it just grew. Mostly ‘cuz I’m wound up like a friggin’ mainspring by caffeinated beverages, and I’d have to burn a kilo to flatten out. Deal with it…And pay no attention to the unethical counting…. So I’m kinda on this corporate shut-down thing for the week – although I’m supposed to be "available", whatever the hell that’s really supposed to mean, which is the only thing keeping me out of the mountains this week. Too bad, I’ll bet the alderflies are a’poppin right about now. So much for Plan A. Anyway, the weather forecast for this week starts out grim and gets worse – we’ll be in the mid 90’s and wicked humid for the next few days. And me with a dysfunctional air conditioning unit at home. Uh oh… Plan B is to spend as much time on water. Any water. So Monday morning I get my boat out of winter mothball mode, clean it up, slap the muffs and a hose on the engine,  fire it up, and wake the neighborhood dead for awhile while I checked the tires and get my gear on board. It looks good. We’re ready. Wife and sons are all working this week. Tough nuggies. Call the SO and let her know once I’m a little more than half way to the Merrimack. Can hear her silently crossing herself, figuring (1) I’m by myself on a big brawny river at night and (2) my back is still sorta healing up after the surgery. The surgery which she is still convinced was necessary because of the boat. Ahem… I tell her not to worry, Paul Goodwin’s gonna meet me at the launch. Then I call Paul  Whoops, no answer at work or on cell. Maybe he went fishing already? He finally calls back when I’m within 15 minutes of the river, he’ll definitely come but he’ll be an hour behind. No problem, I’ll putt around and work a few close by spots then pick him off the dock. So eventually we’re both on board and cruising down river towards the ocean. The tide is dead high so we spent the better part of a couple of hours stripping streamers up on Joppa Flats – basically a square mile of 6′ deep water at high tide – and mud and grass at low – with a vestigial island in the middle. A few weeks ago this area was blazing with activity, but tonite we’d only see the bait gommers with an occasional hook up. Two hours past high tide we motored out through the mouth into the ocean and fished the back side of the south channel rock jetty. This is a spot I always hit if I’m otherwise fishless – because I *always* catch at least a couple of fish here. It’s good for the first three hours of an outgoing tide, otherwise it’s crap. We had about an hour on the jetty point, with me holding the boat just in casting range of the rocks while Paul landed two stripers and popped another before that spot went dead. Towards the end I set two anchors to hold us in place and got in a few casts, got a smack but still blanked. We then scooted back into the river and up the tail edge of the flats, just south of the G13 can. The idea is to fish the drop off on the down stream edge, where the stripers should congregate to catch whatever gets swept off the flats. I’ve hit this spot on days where literally every cast produced a striper.  All you have to do is plop your anchor on the high side and ease down over the drop before making fast. So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. Damn – I hate it when I do that. Auxiliary Anchor instantly field promoted to Main Anchor. We fished this area as the sun set and the air began to cool, both on anchor and just drifting. Drifting worked better tonite, with Paul nabbing another couple of stripers, and me finally boating one. Then I got another. Things were looking up The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. And I promptly caught another striper. And after a bit, my fourth one, a particularly feisty beast that got some really good knuckle-shots in on my reel hand and took me at least 5 minutes and about a quarter mile of drifting downstream to get in the boat. I’m guessing it was 24-25" – not legal, but a nice fish to end the evening, and a reaffirmation that flyfishing for stripers can be a blast… At 11PM and pitch black we motored back up the river, using the GPS to find each channel marker and bridge underpass in turn, as I had programmed into the unit a few years ago, and following the middle of the channel with the sonar display. Wonderful stuff, electronics. Hauled out in the dark (the $5 launch fees apparently won’t light the single streetlamp on the ramp, harrumph!), had my e-brake freeze solid two clicks from released when I backed down to haul the boat – gonna have to fix that beyotch now for sure, hit a local Wendy’s around midnight, then blasted home. Feeling great, back is fine. No ill effects, other than being wound up pretty tight from way too many Classic Cokes. (No – the *drink*, dammit!) SO will be eyeballing me like a hawk in the morning looking for damage, gonna have to literally pop out of bed on the run to keep the heat off me Mid-90’s and humid sucks on dry land. Much nicer to be on the water. Might just have to do the whole thing again tomorrow…Or maybe a lake… /daytripper (bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like

Jolt??)

Response:

I just posted some pix on abpf of the fish we got.

Response:

So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. … Did that once in the middle of the afternoon with half a dozen people on my boat watching…very embarassing.

Indeed. Yet Paul – bless his heart – went very easy on me, considering the fullness of the opportunity. I don’t know that I’d be as kind, but then again, it was *my* boat, and we were a long way from land The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. … Do you usually do that ?

Yup. I think that’s covered in chapter 1 in the book "Stripers For Dummies" (which I have laying about somewhere  Moreover, a chunky black fly is called for, the more water displacement you can manage, the easier for the fish to find your fly in the dark… /daytripper (I think the dew point just met the temperature at 90. Horrible.)

Response:

Question:

"A-Sad-Eye" wrote… Walt…how much would it take to open up a fly shop?….NC is the first place I have ever been that made me think twice about retiring in South America…

Did I read that right?? Norht Carolina = South America? That explains why I can’t understand anyone when I go through a drive-up window. <g John, it sounds like you’re in for a long month. –Steve

Response:

"A-Sad-Eye" wrote… NC is the first place I have ever been that made me think twice about retiring in South America… Did I read that right??

No. Try again and this time parse it like John already intends to retire near his wife’s home in South America. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Thanks for the analysis re these hazards to graphite rods.  Makes sense.  However, most non-purist ffers are not going to stop fishing nymphs, which have to be weighted by some method, whether beadheads, lead wrap, or split shot. To the extent possible we have to avoid banging our rod tip when casting, by refining or modifying our casting technique. Casting with a more open loop works for me. PatK – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hooks are bad enough on graphite tips but bead heads and lead weighted nymphs are worse.  As many of the modern gentry use space age gadgets to tie their flies with, they snap more and more graphite tips because the bead head flies smack at high velocity against the graphite rod tips nicking them.  Oh, they may not snap right away, or next week or the next day but they  will snap soon enough. Nicking graphite is exactly like scratching a pane of glass. Apply the pressure at just the right spot and the glass follows the scratch longitude.  The cross section loads on a tip that is only 3/32 more or less in diameter has Pound Per Inch loads on the cross section that can exceed 185,000 – 250,000 psi at any given time.  Put one imperfection into that circumference and you will have a fiber explosion that can sound like a small bolt of lightening when she pops!  Anyone that sends a graphite tip back to a manufacturer  that has snapped but who has fished Bead Heads with it, are not being fair to the companies that make them.  Frankly, I don’t think any Graphite Fly Rod Company today realizes this fact regarding why they are getting so many fly rods back with broken tips. Frankly, fly fishing to me means "All’s Fair With Fur or Feather," just as in upland hunting over a nice brace of Llewellyn Setters.  But it isn’t fair when fly fishermen are beating perfectly made fly rod tips with Brass, Metal or Lead Bead Heads other than normal hook hazards which is bad enough as it is, breaking them and then claiming foul. The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose.  A little mix of the spinning world into fly fishing is the rogue these days and still claiming its fly fishing in the purist sense of the word. Well, it may be fly fishing but it isn’t pure to the traditions of old. It is compromises in order to take advantage using ingenious methods. The array of glittering materials have seen a huge explosion such as crystal hair, etc.  But Flashabou or Crystal Hair doesn’t smash against the rod tips like bird shot like items do, damaging the fly rods to certain ruin, sooner or later. I think it is only fair that we all consider being absolutely fair with fly rod companies turning out excellent products.  "Well, I slammed the car door on it and it broke," is the complaint and if the fly rod company doesn’t replace it for free . . . oh my! This is why I never use bead head flies and/or nymphs.  At least, not yet I haven’t.  It just doesn’t hold the magic for me as it does for others.  I guess it all depends upon which generation you learned to fly fish in. I have no regrets. Mr. G. http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Hooks are bad enough on graphite tips but bead heads and lead weighted nymphs are worse.  As many of the modern gentry use space age gadgets to tie their flies with, they snap more and more graphite tips because the bead head flies smack at high velocity against the graphite rod tips nicking them.  Oh, they may not snap right away, or next week or the next day but they  will snap soon enough. Nicking graphite is exactly like scratching a pane of glass.  Apply the pressure at just the right spot and the glass follows the scratch longitude.  The cross section loads on a tip that is only 3/32 more or less in diameter has Pound Per Inch loads on the cross section that can exceed 185,000 – 250,000 psi at any given time.  Put one imperfection into that circumference and you will have a fiber explosion that can sound like a small bolt of lightening when she pops!  Anyone that sends a graphite tip back to a manufacturer  that has snapped but who has fished Bead Heads with it, are not being fair to the companies that make them.  Frankly, I don’t think any Graphite Fly Rod Company today realizes this fact regarding why they are getting so many fly rods back with broken tips. Frankly, fly fishing to me means "All’s Fair With Fur or Feather," just as in upland hunting over a nice brace of Llewellyn Setters.  But it isn’t fair when fly fishermen are beating perfectly made fly rod tips with Brass, Metal or Lead Bead Heads other than normal hook hazards which is bad enough as it is, breaking them and then claiming foul. The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose.  A little mix of the spinning world into fly fishing is the rogue these days and still claiming its fly fishing in the purist sense of the word. Well, it may be fly fishing but it isn’t pure to the traditions of old. It is compromises in order to take advantage using ingenious methods. The array of glittering materials have seen a huge explosion such as crystal hair, etc.  But Flashabou or Crystal Hair doesn’t smash against the rod tips like bird shot like items do, damaging the fly rods to certain ruin, sooner or later. I think it is only fair that we all consider being absolutely fair with fly rod companies turning out excellent products.  "Well, I slammed the car door on it and it broke," is the complaint and if the fly rod company doesn’t replace it for free . . . oh my!   This is why I never use bead head flies and/or nymphs.  At least, not yet I haven’t.  It just doesn’t hold the magic for me as it does for others.  I guess it all depends upon which generation you learned to fly fish in. I have no regrets. Mr. G. http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose.

It’s quite easy to get a little flash with other materials, as you pointed out.  I would guess that beadheads seem to catch more fish simply because it’s like a built in split shot – most people catch more fish simply because the nymph ends up deeper. Regards, Jeff

Response:

The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose. It’s quite easy to get a little flash with other materials, as you pointed out.  I would guess that beadheads seem to catch more fish simply because it’s like a built in split shot – most people catch more fish simply because the nymph ends up deeper. Regards, Jeff

______  A spherical bead head always has a flash spot or bright spot on it.  A glint that attracts whenever it gets into sunlight.  Besides what you point out about getting nymphs down to xink to the bottom, there are other ways besides beads.   — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Man I’ve got so much to say…… Opie…you’re good and I’m sorry to hear about Mom.  Wish her the best. I know how you care for her and have you seen Walt…how much would it take to open up a fly shop?….NC is the first place I have ever been that made me think twice about retiring in South America. But I almost blew it because Wayno…..I  could have used you in Chicago because the weather was rainy and it got real drunk out before I went into the Orvis shop and thought, I wish Wayne was here because… Wayne, even tho’ I hate brand name labels….Orvis does make some good shit and I’d buy one of everything if I could afford it, but I couldn’t and I didn’t and I really wish – Wofgang would have been there to drive me back to the hotel because I got really lost and at times found myself in the deepest darkest alleys but now I’m home and the wife left  to visit her folks for a month and although I have scoured this town , nowhere is to be found, Low Down Brown and I wish… Ken were here to recommend a substitute, because… Charlie, I’ve only my beer and I’m down to stems and seeds again, and I’m   – Daytripper just about every damn day until she gets back and although I want to head south I might not make it because the horror and agony of knowing that countless gazzillions of insects died because they couldn’t xink to the bottom ….. ……well…..never mind.  But if there is something to get a nymph…or wooly down to the bottom  in some of the places I fish…..bring a camera ’cause I will xuck your dick……. …a month she is going to be gone gentlemen.  A month. This could get ugly…… john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose. It’s quite easy to get a little flash with other materials, as you pointed out.  I would guess that beadheads seem to catch more fish simply because it’s like a built in split shot – most people catch more fish simply because the nymph ends up deeper. Regards, Jeff ______  A spherical bead head always has a flash spot or bright spot on it.  A glint that attracts whenever it gets into sunlight.  Besides what you point out about getting nymphs down to xink to the bottom, there are other ways besides beads. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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Man I’ve got so much to say…… Wayno…..I  could have used you in Chicago because the weather was rainy and it got real drunk out before I went into the Orvis shop and thought, I wish Wayne was here because…

        well, john, i doubt i will be able to make the connection, but here’s a little help to put in your pocket when things get tough; just follow the bouncing ball:         then take me disappearin through the smoke rings of my mind,         down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves,         the haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach,         far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow.         yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,         silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,             with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,         let me forget about today until tomorrow.                 b. dylan  (but you knew that) your friend in the old north state wayno

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…I don’t know Mr. G., but in my book an unconditional warranty on a rod is just that. ..and if we all want to be purists, wouldn’t we be using bamboo and braided hair lines?     I think you might be right though when you suggest that a definition of fly fishing might depend upon which generation you learned to fish in. Or, more than it being something to do with different generations, it could be that how you are introduced to fly fishing plays a larger part in shaping definitions. After all,the generation gap is a lot more narrow than we sometimes can recognize (lord knows, my once incredibly dense father keeps getting smarter and smarter the older I get).   In my case, no one I ever grew up with threw a fly; a casting book by Joan Wulff was my introduction. So I’ve never really had anyone tell me that "x" is fly fishing and "y" is not. My feeling is that if it’s an artificial lure and If I can cast it, then the fish and the trees should best beware.     …thanks for the great post, you got me thinking about my Pops.. and on fathers day at that. Later, Patrick

Response:

I like that! — Opie  –Planning for the Past– – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – …I don’t know Mr. G., but in my book an unconditional warranty on a rod is just that. ..and if we all want to be purists, wouldn’t we be using bamboo and braided hair lines?     I think you might be right though when you suggest that a definition of fly fishing might depend upon which generation you learned to fish in. Or, more than it being something to do with different generations, it could be that how you are introduced to fly fishing plays a larger part in shaping definitions. After all,the generation gap is a lot more narrow than we sometimes can recognize (lord knows, my once incredibly dense father keeps getting smarter and smarter the older I get).   In my case, no one I ever grew up with threw a fly; a casting book by Joan Wulff was my introduction. So I’ve never really had anyone tell me that "x" is fly fishing and "y" is not. My feeling is that if it’s an artificial lure and If I can cast it, then the fish and the trees should best beware.     …thanks for the great post, you got me thinking about my Pops.. and on fathers day at that. Later, Patrick

Response:

…I don’t know Mr. G., but in my book an unconditional warranty on a rod is just that. ..and if we all want to be purists, wouldn’t we be using bamboo and braided hair lines?

purist because the term purist has not been defined except in the loosest sense.  I said, I was glad I learned to fly fish in my generation.  That in itself is definition enough.  I see you confirm that below.  Thank you for your thoughts and input.  There is a big difference between fly fishing and jig fishing with plastic worm these days.     I think you might be right though when you suggest that a definition of fly fishing might depend upon which generation you learned to fish in. Or, more than it being something to do with different generations, it could be that how you are introduced to fly fishing plays a larger part in shaping definitions. After all,the generation gap is a lot more narrow than we sometimes can recognize (lord knows, my once incredibly dense father keeps getting smarter and smarter the older I get).   In my case, no one I ever grew up with threw a fly; a casting book by Joan Wulff was my introduction. So I’ve never really had anyone tell me that "x" is fly fishing and "y" is not. My feeling is that if it’s an artificial lure and If I can cast it, then the fish and the trees should best beware.     …thanks for the great post, you got me thinking about my Pops.. and on fathers day at that. Later, Patrick

– Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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If this is just the beginnings of *could get bad,* I fear the future! — Opie  –Planning for the Past–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Man I’ve got so much to say…… Opie…you’re good and I’m sorry to hear about Mom.  Wish her the best. I know how you care for her and have you seen Walt…how much would it take to open up a fly shop?….NC is the first place I have ever been that made me think twice about retiring in South America. But I almost blew it because Wayno…..I  could have used you in Chicago because the weather was rainy and it got real drunk out before I went into the Orvis shop and thought, I wish Wayne was here because… Wayne, even tho’ I hate brand name labels….Orvis does make some good shit and I’d buy one of everything if I could afford it, but I couldn’t and I didn’t and I really wish – Wofgang would have been there to drive me back to the hotel because I got really lost and at times found myself in the deepest darkest alleys but now I’m home and the wife left  to visit her folks for a month and although I have scoured this town , nowhere is to be found, Low Down Brown and I wish… Ken were here to recommend a substitute, because… Charlie, I’ve only my beer and I’m down to stems and seeds again, and I’m   – Daytripper just about every damn day until she gets back and although I want to head south I might not make it because the horror and agony of knowing that countless gazzillions of insects died because they couldn’t xink to the bottom ….. ……well…..never mind.  But if there is something to get a nymph…or wooly down to the bottom  in some of the places I fish…..bring a camera ’cause I will xuck your dick……. …a month she is going to be gone gentlemen.  A month. This could get ugly…… john The extra glitter most get with bead heads is the same as fishing with pistol petes and calling it fly fishing, I suppose. It’s quite easy to get a little flash with other materials, as you pointed out.  I would guess that beadheads seem to catch more fish simply because it’s like a built in split shot – most people catch more fish simply because the nymph ends up deeper. Regards, Jeff ______  A spherical bead head always has a flash spot or bright spot on it.  A glint that attracts whenever it gets into sunlight.  Besides what you point out about getting nymphs down to xink to the bottom, there are other ways besides beads. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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Question:

Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey?

Well to be serious for a moment, I do not carry a handgun. I do, however, carry a size 6 weighted wooly bugger and I would feel no remorse whatsoever if I ripped some GDA’s nose off with it. I have not done this to date, but not for lack of trying. You all Europeans can become one with universe, hum mantras and tsk, tsk at the uncivilized North Americans if you wish, but <assume John Wayne accent sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. — Ken Fortenberry

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 Hollow points tend not to pass through and kill an innocent bystander. Especially if you are using subsonic rounds. —  Don Thompson  Zoomie(BushBug)  ACA#3460  TLCB#335  Any Time, Any Place  Pull the chocks, lets get this kite in the air.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But necessary or overkill?

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You have no idea how impressive a size 6/0 pikestreamer can be when adequately stripped.. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm <ad infinitum Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Well to be serious for a moment, I do not carry a handgun. I do, however, carry a size 6 weighted wooly bugger and I would feel no remorse whatsoever if I ripped some GDA’s nose off with it. I have not done this to date, but not for lack of trying. You all Europeans can become one with universe, hum mantras and tsk, tsk at the uncivilized North Americans if you wish, but <assume John Wayne accent sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. — Ken Fortenberry

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

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It was not malicious.  I must admit that I prefer to know the correct names of the people with whom I am communicating, and see no particularly good reasons for aliases here normally .  But it is like many things, purely a matter of personal choice. I never for a moment thought it was malicious.  As for the name..I’ve been using it for about 7 years now and use it for everything online. Just what I started with  so it’s a habit.

Using an alias online is an excellent idea that I recommend to everyone. I’m speaking from a truly harrowing personal experience that I’ve related in this newsgroup. I don’t mind most people knowing my real name, which is Stephen Barnard, but I don’t want it continually plastered all over Usenet. So I compromise. I use an alias, but I reveal my name occasionally so at least the regulars know whom they’re talking to. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Mike Connor  AKA Upstream Spider

How do we know that your name is really Mike Connor? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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snip their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill?

My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) The only variable I see there is the fishermen. They must change in either attitude or numbers. Nothing else will. Please advise where, when & if you plan to thin the standing crop of anglers. Thanks Kiyu

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My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) Kiyu

You’re right, it isn’t.  That should be Fisherman / streams = fishermen per stream Kevin  

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill? My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) The only variable I see there is the fishermen. They must change in either attitude or numbers. Nothing else will. Please advise where, when & if you plan to thin the standing crop of anglers.

The situation is actually somewhat more complicated than what you describe.  In nearly fifty years on this planet I have met thousands of divorced persons, male and female.  Surprisingly, and in apparent defiance of immutable natural laws, in each case I have met the aggrieved party; NEVER the asshole.  The same sort of peculiarity marks my contacts with fishermen.  I never meet (in a social setting) the ill bred yuppie prick or the inbred bubba dipshit; only the well mannered and considerate gentlemen.  Anyone who doubts the possibility of something like this occurring need only read these pages for a few weeks.  All any of us asks is that we be allowed unlimited time in our favorite fishing spots unencumbered by the presence of any other human being within 12,000 miles or so.  What could be more reasonable and selfless?  Now, since we are ALL entirely void of the deplorable characteristics displayed by the lummoxen of whom we complain, it stands to reason that fishing assholes, like divorced assholes, are the residents of a parallel universe who somehow manage to cross over at odd intervals just to wreak havoc on our own blameless lives.  And since we have no reason to believe that the laws of nature behave differently in parallel universes it follows that simply shooting the bastards will never solve the problem because there are in all likelihood just as many of them as there are of us and from what I here they breed like rats anyway.  As well attack the tides with wooden lance! Wolfgang Oh WHY can’t everyone just be more like me?!

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snip one brookie but it was loads of fun on that lovely little rod.  Definitely a keeper.

I wouldn’t sell your stock in Sage just yet. I haven’t tossed a line with an RPL+ but from what I have read here they are nice rods and it is good to switch back and forth from time to time to appreciate what each rod can do for your fishing as your fishing & casting style will change over time. On another note and to revisit the GD I just will never get used to dealing with such incredibly inconsiderate, self consumed jerks.

As our streams become more crowded we will encounter and endure more "self consumed jerks" ….. and beginners who get mistaken for them. Sure streamside courtesy needs to be understood by all but I would doubt that hostile displays do much more than make the other angler think the messenger is a jerk.<G Beginners are usually (if they attended a class) taught in flocks and their early streamside habits often reflect this. Time & observation usually cures their crowding tendencies. A lot of seemingly inconsiderate behavior by experienced fishermen is because different streams develop their own codes of behavior and this gets carried over from stream to stream. I can almost guarantee that someone who regularly fishes a no-holds-barred, fight-for-your-space stream will seem to be a real jerk on a stream that has plenty of angling space and a different stream culture until he gets in sync with his surroundings. I have been on both ends of this. Most people don’t want to interfere with another’s fishing. If I feel someone has encroached upon what I deem to be my fishing space and I want to make a statement about it I quickly reel in without a word & leave for another spot. It is an obvious gesture, is very clear and often gets an apology (unless the person actually is a jerk in which case he will probably not understand any gesture except the single fingered one – and that could get dangerous for all parites). As well, I have sought out anglers to apologize to who have responded similarly to my own chowderheaded but inadvertent encroachments. Works for me – may not work for you. Kiyu

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Herman Ah, well, there is something to be said about etiquette. … Within 5 minutes, here he is, right in front of me. So I move downstream. This little game goes on for the next hour.  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns. — Ken Fortenberry — Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

sharing at all.  One doesn’t share reverie or tranquility.  It is a selfish thing we all need.  Some people need to  get away from even looking or seeing another human being.  Fly fishing is one place where that is possible.  Disturbing a man’s reverie is about the biggest sin anyone can do to another fly fisherman.  Reverie is so precious to some that to disturb it is to replace it with rage, which is reverie’s opposite.   Normally, there are other humans about fishing but it then comes down to a zone of several hundred yards or just a hundred yards but no less than that. It can mean, don’t dog my trail and don’t follow me around. Fly fishing is more a state of mind as anything else.  It doesnot need to be catching anything at all.  It can just be a place not to be shared or seen by others.  It can be just the knowledge that someone walks well around and away who is smart enough not to even say "hello."  One doesn’t go fly fishing to hear ‘hello’ from others, believe it or not.  All this sounds cruel, but ’some individuals’ need a piece of heaven on earth that is undisturbed.  This is a feature in the outdoors that is becoming rarer as each year goes by. As Mel Levin said one time, "Don’t say hello to that guy!  Before you know it, you’ll be exchanging flies, business cards and when you get home you will either get a telephone call or a love letter!  NEVER, say hello astream!" Finally, there is that burning question we all get, or at least the ones that are catching trout.  Suddenly!  From behind comes this rude invasion of privacy.  "What fly are you using?" I always answer, "The one found in "Matching the Hatch!"  Why do you ask? — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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"Ken Fortenberry" wrote…  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns.

Ok, I’m relatively new to the sport of fly fishing. I mean, I’ve fished about 100 days in the last year, but almost always by myself on a private pond. So although I try to be a good sport and show etiquette, I can envision that somebody might infringe on someone else out of naivete rather than ill-will. I hope that if I were to–out of a lack of knowledge–infringe on what someone else considered to be their fishing "space" that the other party would be willing correct me politely and only shoot if I did it a second time. I’m assuming as well that we’re talking about infringement by strangers and not necessarily situations where you’re fishing with someone you know, right? –Steve (so call me an idiot, at least I’m trying to learn)

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Last year, I was fishing Mt. Vernon creek, a small popular spot not too far from Madison, WI. My buddy and I were treated to a streamside invective (a litany, really) directed by a fellow fisherman at the injustice of having arrived to find the stream full of other fisherman when he had been fishing that water for 20 years. Didn’t get a lot of sympathy from me, as I’ve been fishing it a good 5 years longer. But I *could* understand the frustration he must have felt as he watched the crowds grow over the years. For ourselves, we had already begun to leave work early in order to beat others to the stream. I suspect this guy has learned the same trick, or begun driving further. I wonder if some of the increased inconsiderate behavior we’ve had to bear over the years resulted from bad tempers caused by other, usually thoughtful people who had experienced boorishness just one too many times, and lost their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill?

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Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ah, well, there is something to be said about etiquette. … Within 5 minutes, here he is, right in front of me. So I move downstream. This little game goes on for the next hour.  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns. — Ken Fortenberry

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

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Set out this morning in a fine, misty rain eager to fish a new 2 wt. I picked up yesterday afternoon (Orvis, Silver Label 792) to determine if it was a keeper or not.  Suffice is to say, I love the new rod.  I had used a Sage RPL+ in the past and didn’t like it at all…..it was very fast, felt like a darn pool cue.  After 15 minutes or so getting used to casting the full flex action rod it was turning over a size 18 furry black ant beautifully, laying it down on the water as though it had fallen from an overhanging tree limb (actually did manage to snag a tree).  Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse and the light mist turned into a steady rain within the hour.  During that time I managed only one brookie but it was loads of fun on that lovely little rod.  Definitely a keeper. On another note and to revisit the GD Ahole thread…….I had been on the stream for about 30 minutes and was working my way upstream when this jerk comes tromping into the water about 20 yards upstream from me and begins dead drifting some sort of wet fly downstream in my direction all the while chatting with his buddy who was sitting up on the bank, obviously perturbed that I had the nerve to get there before them!  Good thing I didn’t have a gun, I may have just been pissed enough to use it . Anyway, I fished (more like just spent the time false casting the new 2 wt as close to him as I could) a little while longer and since the weather wasn’t great I just tromped and splashed as loudly and clumsily as I could upstream, right past him  and exited about 30 yards past the two interlopers. I just will never get used to dealing with such incredibly inconsiderate, self consumed jerks.  My 4 year old son has the brains and common sense consideration to know better than to do what they did.  When I was leaving I noticed their truck had out of state tags…I guess they figured since they traveled to get there they weren’t going to let anything stop them from wetting a line. Natty

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My 4 year old son has the brains and common sense consideration to know better than to do what they did.

Well that’s probably because your son has a better father than those 2 guys. Don’t get angry with them – feel sorry for them. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Two wrongs don

Question:

Fisher, um, people, I’m looking for some swell spots to fly fish near NYC. I live in Manhattan and am dying to dip in a line and do some fishing! Any suggestions? Thanks,     Fishing Fan in the Big Apple Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Are fihsng form boat or surf. You can cjeck out www.thefishingline.com for reports and best areas to fish. Since you live in Manhattan, call Rich Johnson at 516-889-6895. The Fishing Line radio & TV shows RJ Productions For info on text or advertising call 516-889-6895

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There is a little book entitled "Good fishing close to New York City : a guide to the great close-to-home angling of the metropolitan region"  by Jim Capossela. it is out of print, and a bit outdated, however you might be able to find it at the NY public library or order it through Amazon.com, for instance. It covers fishing within 50 miles of Manhattan. There is some fly-fishing in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties, in Northern NJ. and in Long Island. Check also with the local fly shops. -Vittorio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fisher, um, people, I’m looking for some swell spots to fly fish near NYC. I live in Manhattan and am dying to dip in a line and do some fishing! Any suggestions? Thanks,     Fishing Fan in the Big Apple Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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It has been many years since I fished the area, but the Amawalk in lower Westchester County was a great C&R Brown trout stream. I heard there was an unfortunate oil spill there some years back, but it may have recovered. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fisher, um, people, I’m looking for some swell spots to fly fish near NYC. I live in Manhattan and am dying to dip in a line and do some fishing! Any suggestions? Thanks,    Fishing Fan in the Big Apple Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

Hi Jerry, I am from Co fermanagh in the North, but live in Scotland.  I can give you loads of info if you’re interested.Where are you??  Gillaroo

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Planning a couple of weeks touring in Ireland, late August …..looking for suggested sites for short (1/2 day or full day)…lake or river…flyfishing….Prefer an area where there are gardens and stuff for my wife to see while I fish……plan to stay a few days in each of several areas of the country, and fish leisurely as a part…not the entire purpose…of my trip. Will take a 6 wgt. rod and my stuff…but need a guide, local flies etc etc. Recommendations? Thanks in advance, Jerry Greenhoot

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Question:

Hello,   I was wondering if anyone out there has ever done any serious fishing for Carp <er I mean Bugle Mouths I cought one by accident one time that took almost twenty minutes to land and left me shaking like a leaf!! I would like to go after these big guys with a fly as in one of the local lakes there are fish in the 20 – 30 lb range and I would not be suprised to hear of bigger ones caught! I understand that they will scarf a softshell crawdad imitation but has anyone had any luck with minnow or nymph imitations? It seems when the weather is too hot for anything else to bite these fish are just coming into there own, maybe I should design a "cob-o-corn" fly, what do you think? – Bugsy

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Hello,  I was wondering if anyone out there has ever done any serious fishing for Carp <er I mean Bugle Mouths I cought one by accident one time that took almost twenty minutes to land and left me shaking like a leaf!! I would like to go after these big guys with a fly as in one of the local lakes there are fish in the 20 – 30 lb range and I would not be suprised to hear of bigger ones caught! I understand that they will scarf a softshell crawdad imitation but has anyone had any luck with minnow or nymph imitations? It seems when the weather is too hot for anything else to bite these fish are just coming into there own, maybe I should design a "cob-o-corn" fly, what do you think? – Bugsy

Call Blue Dun Fly Shop in Wanachi(sp), Washington and talk to Darce. He is guiding for carp in a lake out of a boat. It is sight casting in 2′ of clear water. He has been working on this for some years and has become consistently successful. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Bugsey, I’ve been panfishing around carp for years without ever tying into one untill two years ago.Since then I’ve been getting takes consistently with a chartreuse lightning bug.I’ve tried other patterns ( assorted nymphs, wets and even mulberry patterns) without much success. Perhaps this has more to do with my confidence level then the effectiveness of the fly.You’ll notice I said getting takes not catching fish. My bluegill set-up is a 2wt. with a two to four lb. tippet. I generally break them off on the strike or lose them on thier first run,but when I spot one I can’t resist. You can call them trashfish but if I remember right that old Walton guy called them "the queen of the river".                          Hook: 8-10 wet or nymph                          Tail: black goose biot                          Abdomen: chartreuse chenille (1/2+ of the hook shank)                          Thorax: black chenille                           Hackle: black Give it a try,             Jim

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bugsey, I’ve been panfishing around carp for years without ever tying into one untill two years ago.Since then I’ve been getting takes consistently with a chartreuse lightning bug.I’ve tried other patterns ( assorted nymphs, wets and even mulberry patterns) without much success. Perhaps this has more to do with my confidence level then the effectiveness of the fly.You’ll notice I said getting takes not catching fish. My bluegill set-up is a 2wt. with a two to four lb. tippet. I generally break them off on the strike or lose them on thier first run,but when I spot one I can’t resist. You can call them trashfish but if I remember right that old Walton guy called them "the queen of the river".                         Hook: 8-10 wet or nymph                         Tail: black goose biot                         Abdomen: chartreuse chenille (1/2+ of the hook shank)                         Thorax: black chenille                          Hackle: black Give it a try,            Jim

Jim: Your note really jogged a memory for me.  I financed my very first fly rod by catching and selling carp when I was ten years old (about 35 years ago). I grew up in Des Moines, IA, and used to ride my bike to fish some sand pits along the Raccoon River.   I fished with spinning gear for bluegills and bass, but during midsummer I would see schools of big carp cruising along just beneath the surface. Lots of other people would fish dough bait, etc. specifically for the carp.  One day, I figured out that if I tied a treble hook directly to my line and put a fair-sized sinker on just ahead, I could sling it out past the schools of carp, maneuver the line with a rapid retrieve until it was just beyond one’s mouth, and then snag them as it came by. Two things were amazing.  First was how many fish I could catch that way and second was how hard 5-20 pound carp can fight on 4# line.  Anyway, I would sell my carp to the other folks fishing for a quarter apiece.   During that summer, I made enough to buy my first fly rod (a 9′ 9 weight for fishing bass). Once I got started flyfishing, I didn’t ever try the carp-snagging routine, and I’ve often wondered if those schools still cruise around like that. I’ve moved away from Iowa and don’t have many carp around the waters I fish now,but I’d LOVE to try your fly on a few some day. Thanks for the note.  Carp rule! Bob  

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Check out my web page at http://pilot.msu.edu/~connert/carpfly.htm I regularly catch 10 to 15 pound carp on my 8 wt. rod.  If you have questions, drop me an e-mail. Tom Conner

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Ooh, I like that whale description.  I called these particular carp my "White Whale" to another person here.  The place I see them is where a wastewater stream enters cold and clear into a creek the color of pea soup.  You can see the carp cruise where the waters mix; it seems they move without twitching a fin.  Beautiful, but you have to be on your belly or they spook and disappear in a cloud of muck.   Saturday morning, I got a carp surface strike on an ant pattern, but better yet I got lots of unobstructed carp viewing time, without it getting dark just as they come into the open.  Very nice. I’ve come across some more carp info.  There was an article in a 1990 Field & Stream (july, I think) that was nice.  There is also a Carp Anglers web page: http://www.southwind.net/~mikeyes/index.html (mainly for bait-fishing), which has links as well.  Kat’s yet filtered through. Kat, your illustrations of mackeral and tuna are great.  Everyone should take a look.  Thanks. db ****** Derek Berwald – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I agree, Derek! I too have started slowly developing an obsession for carp. I haven’t tried fishing for them yet, but there’s a place near where I live that has schools of big’uns and I love watching them. The more I watch them, the more respect I get for them. They seem to me almost more like whales than fish — their bodies seem to move more slowly, but you can feel the power just looking at them. And spooky? Man, they must have good eyesight to see me through that soup of goose doodoo they live in…It’s a pity they live in such sad-looking water (part of my hesitation in fishing for them stems from the thought of cleaning that toxic slop off my gear afterwards), but I’m slowly getting up the guts to go after ‘em. (I bought a bottle of oil of anise yesterday, I’ve read that it helps to put some on the fly…) I’ve found some useful carp tips by searching for "carp" in the http://www.uky.edu/~agrdanny/flyfish/main.htm Some waggish angler who posted there refers to them as "freshwater bonefish"…I think he’s onto something. I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help wondering…what the hell do I do if the impossible happens, and I manage to bring one in…how do you grab a 20-lb carp? — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, ichthyophile. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. see my illustrations at http://www.mackerel.com/fish/home.html

–

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Let’s keep those carp tips coming, folks!  People mock me for this, but I have been trying to catch carp unsuccessfully for about two months (the length of my flyfishing career, btw).  I’m glad I am only one of the few, instead of the only one trying for carp.

I agree, Derek! I too have started slowly developing an obsession for carp. I haven’t tried fishing for them yet, but there’s a place near where I live that has schools of big’uns and I love watching them. The more I watch them, the more respect I get for them. They seem to me almost more like whales than fish — their bodies seem to move more slowly, but you can feel the power just looking at them. And spooky? Man, they must have good eyesight to see me through that soup of goose doodoo they live in…It’s a pity they live in such sad-looking water (part of my hesitation in fishing for them stems from the thought of cleaning that toxic slop off my gear afterwards), but I’m slowly getting up the guts to go after ‘em. (I bought a bottle of oil of anise yesterday, I’ve read that it helps to put some on the fly…) I’ve found some useful carp tips by searching for "carp" in the http://www.uky.edu/~agrdanny/flyfish/main.htm Some waggish angler who posted there refers to them as "freshwater bonefish"…I think he’s onto something. I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help wondering…what the hell do I do if the impossible happens, and I manage to bring one in…how do you grab a 20-lb carp? — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, ichthyophile. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. see my illustrations at http://www.mackerel.com/fish/home.html

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Let’s keep those carp tips coming, folks!  People mock me for this, but I have been trying to catch carp unsuccessfully for about two months (the length of my flyfishing career, btw).  I’m glad I am only one of the few, instead of the only one trying for carp.  There is a pack of big ones in my local after-work fishing water, and I can see them, but no strikes.  I came as close as ever Wednesday night with a yellow stimulator, but they just came up and watched it drift (for about 30 seconds!).  The hard part is getting the fly past the green sunfish to where the carp are.  I appreciate any and all suggestions.   I would rather fish for trout, since they and the places they live are prettier, but I enjoy this, too. db ****** Derek Berwald

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Question:

   I fished the upper Arkansas several years ago upstream of Buena Vista. I remember public access was limited but locals directed me to some public water accessed at a bridge just up the highway a few miles from Buena Vista that was fun.  I got a few nice ones and lots of small ones.  Ask around at the shops. -al

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I will be spending a week in the Upper Arkansas river valley Aug 5 – 10. Will be with Wife and three small kids (to small to Fly fish), so at best I’ll have an hour or two a day to fish.  Any advice on places to fish, flys to use and local shops to offer advice? Thanks for the help, Dan

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I will be spending a week in the Upper Arkansas river valley Aug 5 – 10. Will be with Wife and three small kids (to small to Fly fish), so at best I’ll have an hour or two a day to fish.  Any advice on places to fish, flys to use and local shops to offer advice? Thanks for the help, Dan

I went to the Arkansas this weekend, but north of Buena vista on Hwy. 24.  It was too cold and rainy to fish, and I was discouraged by an utter lack of public access to the river.  I believe that the Arkansas near Salida provides good fishing and more public access.  I think all the normal patterns will work in the summer… good luck, — MORGAN P. BROWN                 Colorado School of Mines                 Rice University                 Phone:   (303) 215-9190 URL:     http://timna.mines.edu/~mbrown                http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~mpbro

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Question:

Enjoy your reports.  Keep them up.  April 4 particularly important:  I was scheduled to fish out of Miami but had to cancel because I couldn’t get down there; rescheduled to June.  Interested in June 26, 27, or 29 with you; are those dates open?  If so, what’s the rate, what’s the likely target, and can my buddy spin fish? Dave Motes Oakton, Virginia

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Enjoy your reports.  Keep them up.  April 4 particularly important:  I was scheduled to fish out of Miami but had to cancel because I couldn’t get down there; rescheduled to June.  Interested in June 26, 27, or 29 with you; are those dates open?  If so, what’s the rate, what’s the likely target, and can my buddy spin fish? Dave Motes Oakton, Virginia

Dave, I don’t have any time open in the foreseeable future.  E-mail me at Thanks. Marshall

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Today promised to be a great day but turned out to be so-so because of the lack of fish.  We fished west of Key West on the oceanside flats during the morning and had four or five good shots at feeding permit that were mudding and tailing.  It was a good thing they were so active because the water was very silted up.  In fact a couple of fish never seemed to see the fly even though it was put right in front of them.  We did get three fish to tail on the fly but did not hook any of them. Because of the dirty water I went to the gulfside around midday but there was way too much water up on the flats there.  Between noon and 2 PM we saw one fish.  Fitz C. hooked and lost a cobia following a ray. Then we lost our visibility to high cloud cover.  We decided to go look for tarpon because the wind dropped, but couldn’t find any. Finally, we cast to some "floater" permit that were mooning and nymphing in a channel.  We got some follows but no takers. Marshall Cutchin

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Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.

One of the funnier things I’ve seen while fishing happened here.  A couple of spin fisherman were fishing Greenstone and one hooked about a 6" brookie.  His buddy got the net, which had a handle about three feet long and a rim about 2 feet in diameter.  It was big enough to net salmon for god’s sake. Well, as he went to lift the trout out of the water, it fell through the webbing on the net.  I got a good chuckle to say the least.

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A friend was in at Saddlebag two weeks ago and said the ground was still fairly soggy…..alot of the High Country won’t be opened up this year at all, as fall/winter is beginning to happen already (last week it got down to 35 deg 3 nights straight at 6870 ft. elevation. As far as fishing, it’s been suprising how few trout are actually surface feeding this year in the Sierra (Ralph Cutter- can you shed some light on this and/or confirm/deny ??).   All I’m able to attribute it to is the lower than customary temperature of the water. There *are* hatches, although they are much later than usual, but the fish seeem to be ignoring them. The few that I’ve kept have been **PACKED** with nymphs, hoppers, ants and beetles, but not alot of "surface bugs". I indicator nymphed and worked a pair of ants (one flying, one hardshell) and picked up a few fish….but certainly nothing to boast about. Tried soft-hackele wets for hours with no takers..upstream, down and across and downstream…..started to curse Dave Huges and Sylvester Nemes below my breath, but decided that I’d save that for my third and likely final attempt at this "old New Style" of flyfishing. Don’t know if it would be worth the effort of canoeing and then trekking farther; I’ve heard Mammoth has been pretty good this year, you may want to give it a go instead!!

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.  

I haven’t been up there in a few years but this is one of my favorite areas.  I also used a canoe to get across the lake and  then carried it up on the shore a bit and stashed my oars up by a tree a bit up the trail. Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.  The next lake (Wasco) is a little better and I’ve caught fish of a decent size.  Steelhead lake (the biggest in the basin) has been hit and miss for me.  Cascade lake, and the small lake in between it and Steelhead are both real good.  The shallows at the south end of the lake are teeming with brookies in the evening.  There is another small lake (Towser) that is supposed to be a Golden trout only lake and I’ve caught a couple real small ones in it.  Shamrock lake has been one of the best producers for brookies for me and it’s probably the prettiest in the basin.  To the South of Shamrock as you head up the hill there are a couple of other small lakes that are supposed to be Golden trout lakes but I’ve never found them.  At the top of the hill in the center of the basin is Z-lake.  I have caught more brookies in that lake then any of the other lakes.  Helen Lake and Odell have produced much for me and I believe that Odell is supposed to be a golden trout only lake as well. I haven’t fished Hummingbird but I hear it has a large brookie population, so much so that the fish are stunted. There are three lakes up above the waterfall below the glacier that are worth the hike only because they are so pretty.  The first one is almost a tourquiose color.  Unfortunately I was told that these lakes froze solid a few years ago and have not been restocked.  That was about five years ago so it may have changed. If the fish are hitting the surface I have had the best luck with grey hackle peacocks, grey hackle yellows, Sierra brite dots, and coachmens. If they are not,  various nymphs like GR hares ears, prince nymphs, Birds nests, pheasant tails, and a few emerger patterns all seem to work.   I fished all of these patterns with an ultralight spinning rod and a casting bubble.  For the grey hackles, etc, I filled the bubble half full of water and fished them wet just below the surface with a *very* slow retrieve.   For the nymphs I fill the bubble up all the way and then cast and count down several seconds before begining the retrieve. As is the case with any of the areas in the Sierra you should be prepared for any kind of weather.  I’ve been there twice in September when it has snowed.  One time a friend of mine and I drove up and camped at Tioga lake campground because we arrived too late in the day.  He got up the next morning and went out in my canoe on Tioga lake.  He paddled out about 100′ and decided it was too cold.  He knocked on my camper shell window and said that he had to come in and warm up.  We ended up driving around a bit because the heater wasn’t warming fast enough.  It was probably a good three hours before he felt normal again.  Hypothermia is a very real possibility this time of year and it’s nothing to fool around with.  If we had camped out the night before in the basin like we had planned it could have been *real* serious. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.   "Never get suckered into defending the cost of your fishing habit on a cost per pound basis.  It’ll only embarrass or depress you.  The only measurement that makes sense at all is the cost per cast…So, if you are long on effort and short on results, remember that the more you cast, the cheaper it gets."                                             -Tully Stroud Chris Anderson San Fransicko

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Sorry about the subject error, but does anyone know of any WWW sites about fly fishing

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The only ones I know of are: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~jsuchosk/fish/fishpage http://www.indirect.com/ftplink/jshannon.indirect.com.html http://www.unm.edu/pub/flyfish/flyfish.html http://www2.ecst.csuchico.edu/~jschlich http://oeonline.com/~rmarsh/fishpg.html http://www.mind.net/vmt http://www.getnet.com/salmoart http://rmii.com/~flyshop/flyshop.html http://zebu.uoregon.edu/cgi-bin2/Mckenzie/Mckfrontend.pl http://www.peak.org/~robertr/fishing.html http://eagle.dfw.or.gov I hope it is appropriate to publish these.  I started to just email them to you, then decided others might be interested.  I make no guarantees on the effectiveness of these addresses.   If my typing skills don’t get you, some are untested, some are just dated.  I haven’t actually tried all of these since I generally get into this group before getting on the WEB and then I run out of time after reading all the posts on how we hate YUPs.  I need to start a thread on Lawyers…… Have fun, Charley

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